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Deacons look to avenge late-season loss to Georgia Tech
By Jordan Webster
Senior Reporter

Head Coach Skip Prosser passed his first test, as his Deacons maneuvered their way through the regular season to a 19-11 record, and a 9-7 mark in the ACC. He managed to do what Dave Odom could not in his final four seasons — take the Deacs to a winning record in the conference. Now he prepares his team for what they hope will be a third run through the conference, the whirlwind weekend that is the ACC Tournament.

In his first conference tourney, Prosser’s Deacons are the third seed and will take on Georgia Tech in the first round. Tip-off is slated for approximately 9:20 p.m. on March 8 at the Charlotte Coliseum.

The Deacs and the Yellow Jackets split their season series, with each team holding serve at home. Junior forward Josh Howard led the Deacs to an 87-74 win at Joel Coliseum on Jan. 26, scoring 20 points, pulling down nine rebounds and making seven steals. In the second meeting, B.J. Elder netted a career-high 25 points and Tony Akins added 19 as Tech knocked off the Deacons in Atlanta on Feb. 27, 90-77. The Jackets went 15-15 overall this season, including 7-9 in the ACC, but are playing their best basketball of the year. After losing its first seven conference games, Tech won seven of its final nine ACC tilts and eight of its last 10 games.

The loss to the Yellow Jackets was merely a dip in the rollercoaster that has been this season for the Deacons, as the loss came on the heels of a near-defeat of national No. 2 Maryland during which the Deacs looked like they were ready and able to beat any team in the country.

The Deacons have not met Georgia Tech in the conference tournament since 1996, when the Deacs edged the Jackets, 75-74, for the tournament title. Demon Deacon All-American Tim Duncan scored a game-high 27 points in that game.

The winner of the Deacon-Yellow Jacket first-round game will likely face second-seeded Duke. The Blue Devils match up with archrival North Carolina in the opening round. Duke stomped the Heels by an average of 27 points in their two meetings this season.

On the other side of the bracket, eighth-seeded Florida State and ninth-seeded Clemson will battle in the tournament’s play-in game March 7. As if being relegated to the tournament’s lone Thursday night game isn’t enough, injury will likely be added to insult, as the winner will advance to a quarterfinal bout with top-seeded and second-ranked Maryland. The fourth quarterfinal pits fourth-seeded N.C. State and fifth-seeded Virginia.

A pair of semifinal games will be played on March 9, and the tournament final will begin at 1 p.m. on March 10.

With the success that Prosser has enjoyed in his first season in the ACC has come a sort of newfound respect for the quality, top to bottom, of the conference.

"When I was in the Atlantic 10 at Xavier and I had all the answers, I thought this league was sort of a blue-blooded aristocracy of hype and hyperbole," Prosser said. "But it’s good. It’s a lot better than I could have envisioned.

"I think there’s a depth of talent. It’s a terrific league. And I think if you hold your head above water in this league, then you’ve really done something."

"I’ve been very impressed."